Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Oh, Steve & Barry's, we hardly knew ye.
I mentioned last Friday that it wasn't going so good for Steve & Barry's and it looks like things haven't got any better. According to today's Wall Street Journal, Steve & Barry's may have immediate plans to shutter 100 of their 275 retail locations and may flush the whole operation if they can't get emergency financing. Even if the former scenario is true, I somehow get the feeling that City Place isn't one of their highest traffic locations and wouldn't survive the purge. Add that to the fact that they are planning on opening another store in Wheaton Plaza (much higher traffic) and things look bleaker for City Place.

At least we can chalk this one up to corporate incompetence rather than the lameness of City Place.

UPDATE: Could we be losing one of our Starbucks, too?? I can say with some certainty that the one on the Promenade isn't going anywhere.

Really? Last few occasions that I've been in the downtown area (or on the Metro bus or rail leaving Silver Spring), I've seen countless people carrying Steve & Barry bags. Ah well, here's hoping for a clearance sale.

I really think it will be closing soon, especially since they are going to open one up in Wheaton. Petrie Ross should close down the mall, renovate, add the office tower, hire a property management company like street sense (bethesda row, crystal city, national harbor) or macerich (company that manages tysons) then it should prevail. They really need to get their act together. I have tried emailing to see what their plans are for the mall but to no evail, not even a response. On top of Steve and Barry's leaving I think that DSW is going the same way. They are opening up in Wheaton also.

I hope that DSW does close down. A store like that belongs inside a mall, and not on the pedestrian market that revolves around entertainment and leisure. Besides, DSW is about as fugly as it gets. Minimal effort at decoration, and glaring flourescent lights. Be gone!

Nick said... I really think it will be closing soon, especially since they are going to open one up in Wheaton. Petrie Ross should close down the mall, renovate, add the office tower, hire a property management company like street sense (bethesda row, crystal city, national harbor) or macerich (company that manages tysons) then it should prevail. They really need to get their act together. I have tried emailing to see what their plans are for the mall but to no evail, not even a response. On top of Steve and Barry's leaving I think that DSW is going the same way. They are opening up in Wheaton also.

7/01/2008 3:16 PM

RE: Whoever owns Pentagon City Mall need to buy out the Owner of City Place and hopefully then they can add some REAL UPSCALE RETAIL Stores that will bring the foot traffic back to City Place...........

I've been in the Hillandale Starbucks twice - once around their grand opening time and once later on - both times the place was virtually EMPTY and it was still hard to get a cup of coffee from anyone working there.